Verda Smith Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Verda was born on Dec. 14, 1926 in Abbeville County, SC to Mr. Steward and Mrs. Jessie Bell (Rice) Cummings. After her father died (when she was a baby), she was raised by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius and Jessie Bell Martin with her four sisters and five brothers. She worked hard as a young girl in the fields, at school, and at home by helping to care for her younger siblings growing up. She married Mr. Calvin Smith and together they raised two sons, “Pete” (Rashad) and Dennis. She lived a life of loving God first, her family, and numerous friends and people she met in the community (no one was a stranger). Verda had an extraordinarily blessed life as a black woman in the 1950s and beyond. She and her family-owned numerous vehicles, mobile-home campers and RVs, boats, and motorcycles, that provided them with numerous cherished memories. She loved traveling with her family all across the US, cooking, visiting, singing, and ministering to the elderly and sick people in nursing homes as she and her husband shared their love of God through the spoken word. She helped care for her grandchildren as they grew up and was a regular part of their lives up until her last day on this earth. She always knew everything would be all right as she never stopped calling on the name of Jesus, her lord and savior until the end. Verda had a sharp mind and a friendly and fun spirit up until the last week of her life and she could recall memories from decades ago. She loved to laugh and smile, clean her house, go fishing, sing spiritual songs, and quote Bible scriptures. Her physical heath was much better than many people half her age as she loved being active both inside and outside of her house. She used to say “come help me do some work and clean up”. She loved her many pets through the years that ranged from dogs, cats, baby chics and rabbits for her grandchildren. Just this past Thanksgiving holiday, she was holding and lovingly petting her great-grandchildren’s guinea pigs without hesitation after her meal. She was happy, healthy, and saved by the grace of God! Verda was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, three brothers, her first-born son, Rashad Salahudin (Tauheedah), her husband, Calvin Smith, and youngest son, Calvin Dennis Smith. She is survived by her grandchildren: Muhammad Salahudin of Anderson, SC, Denise Ellis of Piedmont, SC, Anjail Salahudin-Bolden (Willie, Jr.) of Powdersville, SC, Raushanah Suttles (Scott), of Piedmont, SC, and Ameer Rashad Salahudin of Charlotte, NC; 11 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Daisy Smith; brothers: James Martin of Baltimore, MD, Paul Martin of Williamston, SC, sister Gloria Elrod, of NY, and a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins. She will be greatly missed, appreciated, and never forgotten. Funeral service for Mrs. Smith will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 11:00 am at The Unity Mortuary of Anderson with Reverend Tiko Thurman as the eulogist for the ceremony. The funeral service will stream- live from The Unity Mortuary’s website. Public viewing will be Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the mortuary. The family will be at their respective homes.

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Verda Smith

December 14, 1926 - March 19, 2022